Four Successful Mamas on How Motherhood Transformed Them

Founder of the cultishly popular, music-propelled fitness practice called The Class, Toomey’s movement includes studios in New York, LA, and now Bridgehampton (with pop-ups in other cities), a detox program, wellness retreats, and a fine jewelry line. Taryn lives in New York with her two daughters, Lettie, 9, and Finley, 7.

What does being a mom mean to you?
It’s a privilege. It’s taught me what unconditional love truly feels like and it's given me an opportunity to be aware of the conditioning that happened during my upbringing and reprogram some of it to provide a better upbringing for my children. Like I said, it’s a privilege.

How has motherhood changed or shaped your approach to your work?
Raising children and growing a business are similar in many ways. In some ways I feel like I’m raising a third child with my work. What's key is being aware of your own “stuff” and noticing if you're bringing that into your work or family life—if you're projecting or over-identifying. Sometimes I'll say at work, "I know this is my own stuff, so I'm bringing this here and am open for feedback." I think it’s bit of the same thing with children. Noticing if it's a conditioned behavior—things you've learned from your mother or father—and asking yourself which of those you'd like to carry forward in your teachings and which of those you'd like to leave behind.

What have your children taught you about yourself?

That I am a beast at all the things: mom and work life included, ha!

What inspired you to become a lingerie designer?
I studied lingerie design in college. It was fascinating to me how lingerie has predominantly been aimed at attracting a man. I wanted to live in pieces that were sexy to me first— then, if I chose to share them with my partner, lucky him.

Who is your go-to for parenting advice?
My Dad.

When you get “me” time,  how do you spend it?
In a bath giving myself a facial. I love the Rose de Mai collection and use the face and body oils after a bath.

How will you spend Mother's Day?
I’ll have brunch at Malibu Soho and then I’ll hit the beach with my family.

When do you make time for yourself?
In the mornings, I like to sit in a café with a coffee and a pain au chocolat. If the weather’s good, I love being outdoors. I might read—I still love to read the French news, though I’ve lived here for 12 years—or plan my day or think of new stories for the magazine.

Your mother and your grandmother also worked in beauty. What did you learn from them?
They were both editors at French Vogue, and were such inspirations to me. They taught me a lot about beauty that I will pass onto my daughter. In my book, my mother said, “Self-care is not about vanity, it’s about self-confidence in your everyday life.” And as you get older, it’s also about giving a positive image of the passage of time to younger generations. I think that’s a beautiful way to live.

An insatiable wanderlust inspired the New York-based Gerba to launch Fathom, an insider’s guide to traveling like a local. She is the co-author of Travel Anywhere (and Avoid Being a Tourist) and mom to Gemma, 3, and Roman, 2 months.

Do you travel differently now, post-kiddos?
Of course I do! The spirit remains the same, but the agenda changes a bit with a toddler and an infant—less emphasis on nightlife and Michelin restaurants; more focus on being in the great outdoors and taking plenty of snack breaks. I like the challenge of packing and itinerary planning with a toddler and infant in tow. And then I like throwing all that planning out the window so that we can be spontaneous and have an adventure.

What is the most ambitious trip you've ever taken with your kid(s)?
Okay, so maybe joining my husband (Mister Saturday Night DJ Justin Carter) on tour for a road trip down the Croatian coast and into Montenegro with a two-year-old was a bit ambitious. She was down with the beaches and the partying, but couldn’t stand all that time in the car. The upside: We made more random pit-stops than usual to jump into the sea.